Chapter 9 - Eddie

It was odd to Eddie, to be in silence yet not feel awkward, to be content merely pawing his way through books, unsure exactly of what he was looking for.

Yet, in the quiet coziness of the back room at the Green Cauldron, Eddie felt something he hadn't felt in such a long time. He was content.

And Winter’s presence was entirely to blame. Just watching her as she sat in quiet concentration was like watching an angel at work.

The gentle flickering of her eyes over the pages, the way she bit her lip, how her delicate fingers brushed over the text she was reading.

He could have simply sat back and watched her for hours, but he suspected that if she realized he was watching her, there would be a problem. And so he went about it carefully, watching his mate-to-be out of the corner of his eye whenever she wasn't looking.

Hours passed in the blink of an eye, and they had gone through several books before he closed the one he had been reading with a deep sigh.

A part of him was actually disappointed at their not finding anything, if only for her sake.

In a way, though, he was relieved. If their search came to nothing, there was only one option left to them. And the thought of it actually sent a thrill through him. He couldn't remember the last time he had actually felt excited.

But the thought of protecting the town, the thought of mating with her, set his heart racing in a way he had never experienced before.

Surely the reason they hadn't found anything was because there was nothing left to find? Fate had dealt her hand, and it was time for them to accept it. He was absolutely certain of it. Wasn't that why he had agreed to go through with the ritual in the first place?

Still, he sighed and said, “Nothing in this one.”

Winter leaned back in the desk chair, closing the heavy tome she had been looking through. “Nothing in this one, either.”

Glancing at the grandfather clock across the room, Eddie said, “It's getting late. Perhaps we should call it a night?”

It had gotten late hours ago. Now, it was early. Dawn would be upon them soon. He could sense the moon going down for the night.

Winter shook her head and pushed herself to her feet. “Just one more.”

Her determination was palpable, and Eddie found himself rising to his own feet to follow her to the latest bookshelf they had been searching.

“What exactly do you think it is we’re going to find?” he asked, placing his book back where he had gotten it from.

Winter didn't answer straight away. Instead, she yawned heavily, a yawn so large that her head went back and she seemed unsteady on her feet. Eddie barely managed to stop himself from reaching out to steady her.

He had touched her so easily before, back when he had helped her up from the shop floor. But things had been different then. The heat of the moment had given him bravery. And besides, he had been concerned that she might be badly hurt. She was, after all, bleeding.

But her nose seemed fine now, if a little bruised, and he suspected that like most witches, she was an independent sort. There was no way in hell she would appreciate him pawing all over her.

“I'll know it when I see it,” she finally told him, placing her own book back on the shelf.

“Okay, well, I guess I'll have to hope my instinct is as good as yours,” Eddie said, reaching for another book.

At the very same moment, Winter reached for the very same spine.

Their fingers brushed as she pulled the tome from the shelf, and he heard how she gasped at the spark that shocked through his own hand.

She snatched her hand away almost at the same instant he did, and the book started to fall.

“No!” Winter exclaimed, leaning forward to grab for the book.

Eddie was faster, grabbing the leatherback book with his werewolf swiftness, a triumphant smile on his face, until he heard a thud followed by a pained exclamation from Winter.

The book forgotten, it fell from Eddie's hand and he was immediately at Winter's side as she started to stumble backwards.

“What happened?” he demanded, reaching for her to pull her back upright. Her free hand was on her forehead, her eyes screwed with pain.

“Damn bookshelf. I hit my head.”

Overwhelming and downright stupid concern flowed through Eddie, and without thinking, he scooped Winter up into his arms.

“What the hell are you doing?” she demanded, but he didn't stop until he had placed her safely upon the desk.

“That sounded like a nasty bang,” Eddie said, gripping hold of her face in both his hands to look her in the eye. The truth was, the sound was still ringing in his ears. She had to have hit her head pretty hard.

There was a large red mark disappearing just beneath her hairline, and before she could say a word, Eddie reached up and gently ran his fingers through the roots of her hair.

Her skin was warm, and he thought he felt a lump beginning to swell beneath his fingers, but he was relieved not to feel any sign of blood.

“Please, stop, I'm fine,” Winter insisted, slapping his hand away, but just as quickly, he grabbed hold of her face again. He knew all too well how a bump to the head could turn into something far worse. His time in the black ops had allowed him to see more injuries than he cared to count.

“Are you dizzy?” he asked, searching her gaze for any sign of a concussion. “Do you feel nauseous?”

“No, I'm fine. It's just the lack of sleep. It makes me a little clumsier than usual,” Winter insisted but still, Eddie wasn't convinced.

The feeling in his stomach made him run his fingers through her hair again, checking for anything he might have missed.

His urge to be sure she was okay, to protect her from any harm, was so strong he felt he would tear off his own limbs before seeing anything bad happen to her.

“Honestly, Eddie, I'm—” Winter began, but she cut off as his fingers slipped deeper into her hair.

Damn, her hair felt so good. Soft and glossy, it was like silk running through his fingers.

He couldn't help himself. He began to massage her scalp, gripping the roots of her hair with desire-fueled intentions.

“Ohh,” she moaned, and he heard her breath hitch in her throat.

The sound urged Eddie on further.

When she turned her head up towards his, Eddie leaned down in return. The sheer intoxication of her closeness left him unable to stop as he placed his lips firmly against hers.

Hands on her face again, he held her there, kissing her deeply. The electricity of their kiss was unreal. It sparked something inside him, made his wolf go crazy with the need for relief. He felt the beast clawing at his insides, desperate to get at her.

It was he who remained in control—or out of control—as he deepened the kiss, pressing himself against her as she opened her legs to him, inviting him closer.

The world seemed to spin into insignificance, and suddenly, all was her.

The way her hands reached to clutch hold of his sides, how her fingers wrapped in the material of his shirt, made his heart race so powerfully he feared it might give out.

What am I doing? The question jolted him so painfully that he stopped instantly, his forehead resting against hers.

For a few seconds, they were silent, the only sound their rapid breathing, steeped in desire.